A-6 OCTOBER 27,2006 RSCOIO-PUESS Commenta How to consolidate property tax bills? The recent proposal to consolidate New Jersey's 618 separate school districts into 21 county offices is sure to provide some interesting political theater. Whether it actually provides any benefit to students or taxpayers, though, remains to be seen. The proposal, introduced last week by state Sen. Bob Smith, will likely prove to be the most far-reaching suggestion to come out of the Legislature's current effort to reduce New Jersey's tops-in-the-nation property tax burden. School consolidation, advocates say, would mean the elimination of hundreds or thousands of superintendents and other central office staff, resulting in millions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. (An estimate in one of Smith's bills put the figure at $553 million, but at this point in the process, any numbers should be taken with two heaping handfuls of salt.) Given how little flexibility local school boards have when they sit down to craft their budget every year, sweeping structural change is the only way to achieve real savings in school spending. And those savings are what legislators are after — proposals to shift the financial burden from property taxes to sales or income levies won't satisfy voters whose own incomes aren't keeping up with inflation. But sweeping structural change is, for obvious reasons, hard to implement. Those well-paid superintendents and central office staff are public-spirited individuals, but not so much that they'll happily acquiesce to their own obsolescence. It also remains to be seen whether taxpayers — the ones with children, at least Game 7 broke my heart. — would take the deal. Homeowners in Cranford, But Game 6 was what being a fan is Westfield and Scotch Plains, for example, have paid a all about. premium to live in those communities so they can send A month earlier I sat alone in my their children to the local schools. Even if they receive apartment, staring at a laptop and guarantees that their children won't be sent to schools regretting with every pitch that I shied away from taking a trip that would elsewhere, will they consent to a superintendent in Elizabeth making big decisions? (Flip this argument on have had me screaming, dancing and celebrating with 50,000 others the its head and you'll see why the Education Law Center, Mets' first divisional title in 18 years. which advocates for students in low-income communiIt was then I promised not to make ties, is a fan of the idea.) the same mistake twice. So when the By Daniel Murphy opportunity presented itself in the Beyond the proposal's political feasibility, there's form of an extra ticket to Game 6 of also the simple question of merit. The savings realized May road trips, fret about June's by consolidation, while substantial, would surely not be the NLCS at Shea Stadium, come hell,' injury reports, jabber about July's high water or Julio Franco, I knew I as great as some advocates would have you believe. trade rumors, curse August's waiver was going to make it. And there's reason to worry that educational quality wire and bite our fingernails over I had to. And I did. standings. would suffer. New Jersey's largest counties have popuMore than 400 miles of travel. More September's It's why we're willing to squeeze lations as large as a small state. Could one superinten- than $200 in travel and game tickets. together like Tetris pieces on an overdent really handle that responsibility? A day and a half out of the office. It's crowded subway car, dive headlong enough to cause your conscience to Nonetheless, the consolidation proposal has some into insufferable human traffic, buy start flickering inside your head — but value — it's very outlandishness could open up meantickets at double their regular season no amount of doubt could overshadow ingful debate about how to reduce taxes. Even if counvalue and shell out precious cash for the magnitude of the moment. tywide districts aren't feasible, the state should aggresoverpriced concessions. When we commit ourselves to fansively promote consolidation on a more limited level. Even if we didn't know it at the dom and to a team, these moments — Twenty-one school districts may be too few, but 618 is time, it was the possibility of nights like Game 6 — are the goals we purlike Game 6 that caused us at an early too many. The Legislature should offer serious incensue, a chance to experience personally age to throw our allegiances behind a tives to promote consolidation where appropriate — for the glory of the team we've stood with through the sublime, the ridiculous, team and suffer more heartbreak than example, tax credits to residents of communities that the mundane, the insane and even Art celebration. But you keep coming back, vote to merge their districts. Howe. keep rooting, keep suffering, keep In addition, we should be on the lookout for other praying, keep hoping and keep believThe possibility of these moments is opportunities to create "sweeping structural change." what keeps the hot stove at full boil all ing. Our vote? Health insurance. Administrative costs are winter. They are what we hope for Because, you hope, at some point, high, but they pale when compared to the price of prowhen we study spring training rosters, somehow, someway, your team will analyze April box scores, agonize over viding every public employee with health benefits repay you with a night like Game 6. funded by taxpayers. Some school districts are taking baby steps in this direction by requiring their employees to contribute to their premiums. But health care is an area where there really are massive inefficiencies which, if correctno construction equipment on site, nor ed, could translate to huge savings. America spends as Grouncibreakings any other sign of construction. And, much taxpayer money on health insurance as other were just for show according to borough records, there developed nations, but provides lower-quality care to a are no building permits issued. To The Record-Press: smaller percentage of its population (basically, public Indeed, one could hypothesize that I must say that I am flattered that employees, senior citizens, veterans and the very poor). the entire photo-op was exactly that, Mayor Colleen Mahr has taken the Basically, we pay as much in taxes to care for a select time from her various photo-ops to for it certainly was not a start of a portion of the country as residents of some other attack me in her recent missive. Some building project, since you cannot nation pay to care for their entire population. number of years ago, the late Senator build without a building permit. By Done correctly, real health care reform — which, Daniel Patrick Moynihan stated dur- the way, why did these events occur unfortunately, extends far beyond the scope of the state ing a debate, "You are entitled to your three weeks before Election Day? Then there is the question of my own opinion, but you are not entitled Legislature's current efforts — could improve treatment for most Americans while also easing the proper- to your own facts." Such is the case not being able to attend the photo-op. What the mayor did not mention is ty tax burden. Now that's an outlandish proposal worth with the mayor's letter. that these "events" were so hurriedly The mayor begins by speaking of taking seriously. two groundbreaking ceremonies along put together that the invitations were South Avenue. She goes on to attrib- sent out -— by e-mail only — two days ute to me points of view regarding before (Friday for the Sunday event) development and the horrendous mis- and five days before (Thursday for use of eminent domain that are plain, Tuesday's event). Like most people in flat-out wrong. I am particularly today's society, my schedule is tight. appalled that she implied that I favor Sunday I had family plans already in NJN Publishing © 2006 some kind of eminent domain, which place and Tuesday, I had to work. If A Penn Jersey Advance, Inc. Newspapar has never been part of any plan pro- this was a real ground-breaking and posed by anyone — except as a scare not just a show — where was the courtesy of giving those who would be tactic of Mayor Mahr. Publishcr/VP Advertising Eileen Blckel 732-396-4404 interested decent notice? It is interShe ridicules my use of the term, Advertising Director Carol Hladun 712-396-4975 "lack of progress." Okay, you can be esting that the mayor made sure the Editor Ores Marx 732-396-4219 the judge. Colleen Mahr and her min- press was there, but not the public. Sports Editor Joe Serum 732-396-4202 Finally, let me state that Rich Alber ions have hold power since Jan. 1, 2004. It took her two years, nine and I will work for the people of this months and 1.5 days to put a shovel in borough, and we will work with the the ground. It is customary for a elected representatives, all of whom builder, nt that point, to begin digging are currently Democrats. This town is up the earth and laying a foundation. too small for the silly name-calling 301 Ctntral Avenue, Clark, \J. 07066 As of now (Sunday, Oct. 22), there is and misstatement of facts that are too A fan comes home to Shea, forone memorable night You hope one day it'll repay you with the opportunity to join 56,000 rv A 1 A • others in serenading a diminutive Dominican shortstop with a holy chant of"Jose, JoseJoseJose, Jose, Jose." You hope to rise to your feet and give a standing ovation to a rookie pitcher who pushed fear and nerves and inexperience aside to pitch the game of his life when you, he, his team and every other orange and blue clad disciple needed it the most. You hope for the opportunity to clap and high-five strangers until your hands turn raw, and scream until your lungs and vocal chords are stretched to their breaking points, then beyond. I don't know if we choose our teams or if they choose us. But either way, we're stuck with each other. We're stuck with each other in pursuits of nights like Game 6, where a few hours of magic are pulled like a rabbit out of a hat filled with sacrifices and years of devoted service. It doesn't matter who you root for, whether you're a spoiled Yankees fan, a broken-hearted Cubs fan or a bitter follower of all things Philadelphia — you do it all for moments like this. It's even worth a broken heart. Daniel Murphy was sports editor of the Record-Press and Cranford Chronicle from 1999-2004, winning five New Jersey Press Association awards for his writing. He currently lives in Arlington, Va. You can email him at da nielmurphylau>@yahoo. com. Letters to the Editor President Sonlnr V.R Operations ConlroUcr Iliwnas II. Knki'l Joseph (iioioso -MarRara M. Gcrkr "H«-7H2-47-t7 908-575-6759 <m-'rHZ-47V News: Phone: 732-396-4219 Fax: 732-574-2613 Circulation: 1-800-300-9321 Advertising: 732-396-4404 • Classified: 1-800-472-0102 Record Pnss <t S«i«IMM9) is puHlsJinl on train ty S | \ PubMiUiK. .«H (enrnt * c , UaHt Sj i n « i WWJ i-vWrtl. Second O L « poatagL' pukl u rjanfonJ. NJ O'OUi WK>T*HM1* (*«*• * w l rtanps tu NTV PuNtJitog rulliflmcnl oflkri', HO tin tm, SnnwiiBe, Sj OWh. Silwrtpdon ran* lit rmil. our mr »ii!iii I nim f unity tr,inn licmm (SI, nut of siilf tli. To sifrcrihe call I««(-«»J')VI frequently a part of the political discourse. ANDREW J . MacDONALD Fanwood The author is a Republican candidate for Borough Council. Town manager is a 'fine public servant' To The Record-Press: Recent rumors seem to be swirling about in our town that the Democratic candidates for the Scotch Plains Township Council plan on firing Tom Atkins as the municipal manager if they get control of our government. I encourage this paper to investigate these rumors and if proven true, find out why the Democrats are basing their campaign on something so totally destructive rather than constructive. Tom Atkins grew up in this town and has worked tirelessly and well for the community for several decades. He has worked with both Republican and Democratic councils over the years and is respected statewide for his work in the field. I have always known him to be a gentleman and faultlessly dedicated to the residents of this community. Scotch Plains cannot afford to lose such a fine public servant because of personal political vendettas. 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